Good teacher. He doesnt use the text...but he gives out some interesting hand-outs. I didn't find him to be too pushy with his personal opinions.

i find him to be a great teacher, very interesting. he does not use the text much, and is heavy on lectures. if you attend class and listen to what he says, you will have no problem. attendance in this class is the key.

Zirkle is a very understanding person and has a huge understanding of what he teaches. He has strong opinions he DOES NOT force on his students.Tests are not hard if you pay attention to the lectures which is what he goes off of. forget the text it will confuse you.

Very helpful, smart, great lecturer. He has personal opinions that are relevant to the topic, yet does not force them on students. Very nice and easy to work with. He covers a lot of material each class and each class is interesting. His tests are easy if you follow his study guide and take good lecture notes. Truly a very nice guy.

Great class and recommend all to take, especially from Zirkle. He is nice, and goes out of his way to make the info meaningful and relates to real life experiences. He has strong opinions, however, he does not force upon his students. He articulates his knowledge of the subject and makes every class interesting.

A little more difficult than i thought it would be but overall not a bad class. Be warned though, as part of the final you have to write a 6 page paper.

Zirkle is really a great teacher I would recommend him to anyone who is interested in Sociology because he relates it so well to everyday life. He also increased my awareness for a lot of things I didn't realize about the world before.

the guy is funny, smart, and easy going. the level of class participation was great, i think it's b/c he really gets people thinking. as long as you take notes, and do a minimal amount of reading you will do very well, unless you can't deal with 4 days allowed absent, in which case why the hell are you in school? def recommend. also teaches at KU

I absolutely loved Brian! For his class you have to show up and read the book, but it's worth it. It was one of the few classes I actually enjoyed showing up to, although at the end of the semester I unfortunately ended up sleeping in thru a lot of his classes. I am currently taking another class of his as well!

Great teacher, and knows his stuff. Love going to this class. He does NOT bash anyone based on race. If you think he does you are clearly ignorant and fail at life. You have to go to class to understand this stuff. Grades on a curve. Would take again.

Brian is a great instructor! He is passionate about what he teaches and creates a relaxed learning environment! You do have to show up to class and read the text book but it is worth it. I would recommend his class to anyone! Even though I am not changing my major to Sociology, his class made me think twice about doing so!

Brian is a great teacher! He relates well to students and makes the topic interesting. I enjoyed his Social Problems class and would recommend it to anybody.

Brian is a great guy! When I attended his class, I had just returned to school from a 4 year break and found that he made learning fun again. I found the classes fun to attend, notes weren't too long and discussions were always interesting. Very personable! He does grade on a curve which was great for me because I set/broke the curves every time.

Rarely ends sentences with a preposition.

The class is very interesting but not really manditory to go to, other than the fact that he gives attendence pts. The class is supper easy and without much effort pulling off a B is a piece of cake. I never took notes or read a single chapter in the book. Just Study the vocab and dont blow off the term paper and youll do good. Class was super easy

I think he is a great professor, his test are really easy if you just study alittle.

Social problems class very interesting. A lot of student teaching and good documentary films. I recommend.

He's a very good teacher. I ended up with a D, but that was my own fault. He's a feminist and leans heavily towards the left. Go to class, do minimal amounts of studying for the tests, and prepare yourself for a 6 page research paper, and you'll be fine. Take Zirkle, he's great.

Love how personalized the lectures are. He makes them relatable and fun.

Wow... I never thought a class could actually infect my life as much as much this one did. Zirkleis clear, precise, and passionate. Everything you want in a teacher. He makes you feel comfortable about talking about touchy subjects like race and sexuality issues. Take notes in class and read the text and you will do great. Best Prof. ever!!!!

Professor Zirkle is an excellent teacher. Makes topic interesting and is fair in grading. Attendance is mandatory but you get a lot out of the class so worth the time.

Brian is a nice, laid back guy, but his teaching style is terrible. He lectures all class and when it comes time for a test, he expects that you have read six chapters from the book and know all of the vocab, in which you only use ten on the test. The class average on the test was 50%. If you want an A, expect to teach yourself and to read a lot.

Brian really knows what he's talking about. He's a good professor, but he's alomst all lecture. I had him for "Social Problems" without any prior sociology classes. It has been very difficult but I'm managing. I would suggest taking this class only AFTER you've taken a beginners sociology class.

Brian is a nice teacher, but lectures about 95% of the time you are in class. Very passionate about the topics he discusses. Outside reading required to do well on the tests. Tests aren't very easy and the readings are boring but you really do need to do outside reading to do well in his class.

Brian is fair & willing to help any student that asks! His class is by no means easy. The paper required is interesting & will help your grade. His exams are difficult. I relied heavily on the outlines he provided for a study guide, but never received an A on a test. Write down every word he says during lectures.

Social Problems class with Zirkle is fantastic. He has a great teaching method, lots of fun discussions, and it really opens your eyes up to the world. I would recommend the class to anyone. As long as you go to class, take notes, and listen- it's pretty easy and you learn a lot. Great teacher!

Intro to Soc class was very interesting, Pay attention and write down his lectures. You will also need to read the book as he gives pop quizzes over the chapter you were supposed to have read. He is a great teacher dont let the other reviews scare you off. Will miss his class and discussion to be honest.

Zirkle is a great teacher and gives good insight if your serious about learning. His class is definitely a challenge but he definitely satisfies any sociological imagination. Not to mention hes looks just like Fabio. Very easy on the eyes.

Loved Brian! He was incredibly funny and made learning this subject fun. He was only hard if you didn't do the reading or study. If you are looking for a slack-off easy A, this is not your guy. If you are willing to put slight effort into this class and A is easily in your reach! Loved this class, wish he taught more of them!

Very good teacher! Makes you want to go to class! He knows what he's talking about and is very clear, even if you aren't into sociology you will love the class and understand it! The tests aren't hard as long as you attend class or read.

Brian is a cool guy. Knows the subject very well and there are interesting class discussions. Be sure to read the chapters because he does give pop quizzes! Attendance is apart of your final grade as well.

This is my second course with Dr. Zirkle. He is very passionate which made it very easy to learn. I wish I could take more of his classes.

Loved Brian's class, other than the fact that we were behind schedule a lot (especially with the snow days this year) things went smoothly. I really respect the way that he is non-judgmental and open-minded towards all views that line up with the facts. His class is not particularly easy, but it is enjoyable.

Sociology was an extremely interesting class. Professor Z is very passionate he truly changed my way of thinking. The thing with his sociology class is you need to apply the lecture and the book to daily life. His lectures kept me on the edge of my seat but the tests are very difficult. Study groups are a helpful tool for his classes!

Zirkle's class is super tough for an intro class, but if you know how to study and you pay attention, you'll do fine. He's super passionate about the topic so that keeps his lectures interesting, and class is a really relaxed atmosphere. Tests are rather hard, and most of the material comes from lectures. Just study! But I honestly loved the class.

Professor Zirkle is very passionate about sociology, and he teached really well. He loves when the students ask questions and talk about the class subject as a classroom where everyone gives their point of view. He gives quizzes which are hard but you just need to read the material to succeed on them. Always go to class!

Tests go over lectures AND the textbook! They aren't easy, but if you take notes in class and read the chapters, you'll pass them just fine. And the tests aren't based on his opinion. He'll specify when he's giving his opinion or a fact on something. I loved this class, and it's gotten me into sociology.

Honestly, I loved this class and I thought that Brian was an amazing professor! You can tell that he is truly passionate about Sociology. I will admit that the tests were somewhat tough, but as long as you study (especially lecture notes), then you can easily receive an A. I recommend this class with Brian every time someone mentions it. Amazing!

Brian was by far my favorite teacher at JCCC and this was my favorite class! Yes, the class is tough but it should be! The material is very interesting and Brian makes it even better. He doesn't beat around the bush when it comes to talking about how messed up things are. Hence the name of the class, social problems. A truly wonderful class!

I honestly did not read anything from the book I rented for the class and I did really well. If you show up and pay attention you will at least pass. The research paper was really the only assignment you had to work for. I worked hard for it. The teacher is amazing and the only people who get angry are those who are closed minded.

I have taken several courses at different colleges, I have never met or had an instructor that I liked so much like I do Dr. Zirkle. His speeches are inspirational, he targets real world problems. He's honest and passionate about teaching. He's funny, humble, and probably the best instructor JCCC has.

Zirkle is a really nice guy. Very willing to help inside and outside of class. Definitely not afraid to address the current social problems. If you are conservative, you will be uncomfortable. A few people in the class spent most of their time arguing and upset but I really enjoyed the class. Very recommended. If you take good notes, you'll pass.

First, Dr. Zirkle is a really chill teacher and passionate about what he does. There's things you need to know about him & class. #1 if you don't show up you already failed. #2 Dr. Zirkle has very open language (you'll find out). #3 His tests are not a fly-by. 3 words LECTURE LECTURE LECTURE. Take some darn good notes you'll need it. & dont skip

Once you take this class, you will understand why some students hate it. However, world would be a better place if you had to take this class before you could vote. The teacher is passionate and communicates ideas easily. I did not read anything out of the book. Everything you need to know is discussed in class. Never studied. Easy A!

Brian is the most down-to-earth teacher I've ever had. The guy really has a talent for lectures. Go to them if you want to pass. He assigns reading material and often pop quizzes the next day, but is very clear about it. If you spend 20 minutes to read the chapter, you'll ace the quiz, buff your grade, and hardly need to study for the next test.

Brian's great. He's really passionate. He believes that this is college and doesn't dumb anything down for his students. So you should expect to read the syllabus and be prepared for class. That's really all he expects. His tests are tough, but all multiple choice, true false, etc. Plus, he curves them quite a bit, so I never had an issue.

He's a down to earth teacher. I enjoyed his class, while his lectures could get extremely boring, that's to be expected with most lecture based classes. Tests are over 1/3 reading 1/3 lecture and 1/3 vocab. STUDY YOUR VOCAB!! It's extremely easy points on a test, don't skip it. Grades are tests, a few quizzes over readings and the 6pg essay

he is a great guy he is the best

This guy is so cool, if you come in with an open mind on social issues, you'll never regret taking this class. The the demystification of things like structural/institutional oppression, education inequality, healthcare, etc are to a T and everybody gets it when the lesson is over. Absolutely great at his job, glad this guy does what he does. 10/10

Make sure you do the reading. This professor has standards, which is a good thing. He is remarkably intelligent, so if you don't understand something just ask. He has been one of my favorite professors due to his true breadth of knowledge, passion and commitment to the education of his students. If you don't care, don't take this class.

The topics in this class are very interesting. Zirkle is a great guy, and a great teacher. The way things are graded, however, are a little difficult. There are pop quizzes over the reading from the book. You have one group presentation. Only 3 tests, one of those being the final. You get points for attendance, can miss up to 3 and get full points.

He's a pretty good professor. If you've got stuff going on that makes you miss class, just let him know and he'll try to work with you. Participation is a must, and the quizzes and few tests add up because he doesn't have a lot of homework outside of class. Do the reading, be respectful. Do this and use common sense and your grade will be fine.

Best days in class were when he'd have to call out some alt-right kid for acting out. Other than that, when I had my partners bail on me for a group presentation, he helped me out a ton and provided me with a lot of resources to use. Also one of the most woke professors I've ever had. 10/10 would recommend

Not a particularly challenging class. Very steep curve on exams, many people got over 100%. Lectures are a bit dull. He openly admits he will probably offend everyone at some point in the class, but even coming from the opposite side of the political spectrum than him, we were able to get along and discuss issues respectfully. (Taken in summer)

Professor Zirkle is a solid professor. The lectures get quite boring, but he is a good guy. Make sure to read the chapters of the textbook that correspond with the section lead. There will be 5 pop quizzes which usually occur before the section lead. Overall, good class but the lectures can become quite dull.

Great professor. If you are closed minded or offended by criticism of political parties do not take this class. Essays are big part of grade shortest is 5 and longest is 6, (3-4 essays), and weekly quizzes over the book. I like his class structure he allows students to present social issues so it feels like a discussion rather than a lecture.

I learned so much from his class! Lectures can be dull but if you're at all interested in the topic at hand, he knows his stuff. The guidelines for the term paper are way too strict and quite frankly ridiculous. Quizzes are easy if you do the readings. Tests are a mixture of lecture and textbook. Be sure to study the vocab!

Neolibs hate him! Just kidding, Prof. Zirkle is an entertaining lecturer who breaks down giant American social problems & simplifies them in an entertaining way so that those of us taking a 100 level class can understand. Tests are laughably easy, read ahead because he quizzes on info in a chapter before presenting. Show up & passing is guaranteed.

Great professor, accelerated my interest in a political career. Cares deeply about the subject of the class- Social Problems.

Dr. ZIrkle gives amazing lectures. I learned so much from taking his class. I highly recommend this professor and this course to not only increase your knowledge and awareness of social problems but to increase your understanding and empathy.

Wow this semester has been strange! Professor Zirkle was great and I would highly recommend his class. He was very understanding of the odd situation his students were put in. Show up to class and take notes, stay off your phone, AND STUDY THE VOCAB. The two papers seem scary but if you get a jump start on them you will be okay.

Took during covid. Great prof, uses personal and multiple examples to make sure you get it. Come in with an open mind. 3 tests including final not comprehensive. A chapter of reading a week, followed by a 10 question true/false quiz with a 30 minute time limit where answers are in the book. A 6 page paper and 3 page documentary analysis.

Great professor, very passionate about sociology and social problems. Took during covid with zoom calls. He covers a lot during the class time so it is good to make every single session and he also provides study materials for all 3 tests. There is a term paper and group project but if you don't procrastinate, you'll be fine.

I had Professor Zirkle for Soc 122 and Social 125. Both classes were online due to covid. Professor Zirkles class was super interesting and he really cares about what he is lecturing about. He makes the topics easy to understand with personal stories and research. He is very accessible and flexible. I would highly recommend taking his class.

This class is so fun, especially with a class that engages in the lectures. The whole class didn't want semester to end. One group project term paper, no final. You do have to pay attention during class because there are things on the test that he talks about, but aren't on the slides. be sure to read the textbook, otherwise you won't pass.

Brian was hands down my favorite teacher at JCCC. He was amazing and I recommend his social problems class to ANYONE no matter the degree youre getting. Amazing discussions, amazing lectures. You can tell he loves the subject and is deeply knowledgeable

If you're going to take sociology, this is the class to do it in! Great lectures!

Shout out to the inaccurate bad review. Sorry u are so bitter u had 2 come on here. As a fellow student in this class youre a great example of social problems. courtesy to high-risk individuals the first 2 rows are mask preffered. the planning was repeated well in advance but u not only dont listen but arrive late daily creating distraction for all

honestly, he really was pretty good. everyone complaining about him pushing a socialist agenda are just flat wrong. his lecture is great and is always open to questions, he also has pretty relaxed policies on grades and missed quizzes and things like that. they're almost all open book and honestly, I would love to take another class from him.

He gets a bad reputation because he does say thing that might make people uncomfortable. Its a social problem class! its supposed to be uncomfortable. Its super lecture heavy but they are interesting to listen to. All quizzes are open note. Tests online as well. Hes a really nice guy who really knows what hes talking about. Id recommend this class.

Professor Zirkle is an amazing teacher All of the topics we learn about in this class are thought provoking but with him as the teacher it is even more interesting. He is a chill dude and very knowledgeable about all of this subjects. The class is test heavy and there is a paper midway through that will make you cry but it was an amazing class!

Dr. Zirkle class was great his lectures were very informative and I learned new things over the social functioning of human society. Showing up to class is a must, taking good notes for his exams, and reading the chapters. If you do that you well definitely pass his class. I would definitely recommend him and take his class again.

Firm in his beliefs, whether you agree or not. There was one, maybe 2 papers, but he's pretty lenient on late work. Not much homework, but a lot of notes. One group project, and that's about it. Laid back teaching style.